LightedLampMagazine

February 2013

Contents

Quiz

12 Parables How well do you rknow the parables Jesus told?

How-To

10 Identify a Christian Without Reading His Bumper Sticker

Poetry

4 Remembering My God

Articles

6 New Every MorningWhat to do when facing our failures.

9 Jehovah Sees

8 A New Year

Editor:Priscilla Carsten

Writers:Alexus HensleyAliceTaneka StreetZachary Azzarito

Photographers:Isaac Swanson

Cover:LeeAnne Hughes

©2012 Lighted Lamp Magazine

Colossians 3:2 (NKJV) urges us to “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” All around us, the things on the earth demand our attention. While it is important to consider the course of our earthly lives, we must also remember the things above.

Instead of seeking what the world calls “success” we sould look to God’s definition of success. The world’s success consists of accumulating more posessions, being known by more people, and doing whatever we want. God says that to be successful we should be kind, humble, longsuf-fering, forgiving, and loving.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus talks about the things that people seek, like food, clothes, and even height. Je-sus wrapped up that thought by telling us to make seek-ing God’s kingdom our first priority and to trust Him to provide for our needs.

God bless,

Priscilla

Matthew 5:16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.From the Editor

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Psalm 20:7 some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of Lord our God.

The firmaments show your handiwork.No snowflake is the same,

Crisp, gentle, dainty. Blanketing.

The stars host your heavens, are they angels maybe?Some have fallen, still falling.

Some glorifying your holy, hallowed name.Which, I never dare speak in vain.

My success is in the precepts of your word,Your law converteth my soul,

Your commandments enlighten mine eyes.Who am I, that I deserve mercy, knowledge?

I hope with the hidden places of my soul,That Satan reign here only but a little while longer.

Until your son come,Let not these presumptuous sins take dominion over me,

Please cover, comfort me in the incredible drapery of your wings.

Remembering My God

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The firmaments show your handiwork,I gasp at your views. No man can make your mountains,No man can measure the depths of your seas. The number of your wondrous works no man can seize!

You are pure,You, my most High Father. He is Pure,Your son, he lifteth me up.When my faith is tried through the fiery furnace,Through Christ will I endure.

So please hear the meditation of my heart,Let it be acceptable in your sight. Witness my good works,Be glad in my faith. Let my ways glorify you O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

Praise is to your holy name.Praise is to your holy name. I will remember you, always.

Remembering My God

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nitely not the way you want to end the day. It’s happened to me more times than I would like to count. However, that story didn’t end there for me. God had done an awesome work in my life just a few works beforehand and He wasn’t about to let one night take it all away.

The sun was shining through the window in

It’s a story that many of us are all too familiar with. Going to bed, consumed with the guilt of screwing up big time that day. As humans, we are going to make mistakes and mess up; it’s just in our nature. However, more often than not, we let that guilt and shame slowly creep in to the point where we are going to bed just ask-ing ourselves, “How did I even get here”. Defi-

by Zachary Azzarito photograpy by Priscilla

As I lay in my bed, I thought to myself, “After all that work, in one moment of weakness, it’s all thrown out the window. How could I be so careless to give in right after talking about staying strong this morning?” As guilt and shame started to poke at my head, I rolled over and went to sleep.

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my dorm room. I just laid there not wanting to move to see the clock. Finally, I rolled out of bed and hopped on my laptop to see what ev-eryone was doing that day. My roommate final-ly woke up after a while and turned on the TV and was talking about some random stuff that I don’t remember. Eventually hunger finally had its way and I got dressed, got in my truck and drove to Publix and Starbucks.

Little did I realize that the song I was singing to myself as I got dressed would lead me to be praising God and peace of mind after that long night. Picking up my shirt, the lyrics hit me. “Lord we stand amazed in Your presence, as-tounded by Your mercy and love. Our hands are lifted high in surrender; Your grace for me is always enough.” I could help but to start sing-ing and I could feel a wave of peace and love poured out onto my soul from the Holy Spirit. Despite my mistakes and sin, God had never left me. I was His son, and He loved me dearly. It was truly amazing. I felt so at peace when I

got to Starbucks knowing my God loved me.

That morning was an awesome experience of God’s grace and mercy. He had taken my mis-takes and used it for His glory, and removed my guilt and shame. I could help but smile as I wrote this story, remembering the amazing-ness of God. As humans, we are always going to fall short of God’s standards. We can’t do it on our own by any means. That’s what makes these two verses so encouraging “For He res-cued us from the domain of darkness, and trans-ferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins,” Colossians 1:13-14. God loves us, and He wants us to seek Him regardless of what we do. It doesn’t matter how horrible that mistake was the day before, God’s mercies are new ev-ery morning. I want to just encourage you to run to God, let go of the guilt and shame, and “let the peace of God which surpasses all un-derstanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

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There is no safer place to be thanin Your care!

Help me to be what You want me to bein the new year.Help me to grow in my relationship to You.

Help me to see the new year throughYour eyes.Help me to look forward with anticipationto all You have planned for me.

May I always be humble,always seeking You,always wanting Your will, not mine.

Let me see the year through Your eyes;Work in me and through me.

by Alice, photograpy by Priscilla

Dear Lord,You know what the future holds.I don’t.

You know all about the year ahead.Thank You that You are with me.

The world changes.You do not.Thank You for that.

Thank you that I can depend on You,the solid Rock.

When I see changes in the worldthat trouble me,Remind me to trust You.

You are the Creator of the world.You hold all of us in Your hand.All is in Your control.

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Jehovah Seesby Taneka Street, photography by Isaac Swanson

Jehovah sees, and his eyes are roving about in the earth.

The sick have caught his eye.

The depressed have his glance constantly.

In all languages he begs that they callhis name, and come to him for help before resorting to wrongdoing.

He gives without letup.

He keeps track, and knows my needsbefore even I.

No matter how great or small he will see to it, and provide the proper things at the proper time.

Murderers have bought his rage in blood.

Thieves have made him shake his headin shame.

The swindler thinks that he has gotten awayclean, but Jehovah sees.

He will call them to account in his own time, and those who preyed on the weak will themselves become prey.

For God is not to be mocked.

Justice is his constant companion, and wisdom his very crown.

No thief can hide from his gaze.

No liar speaks any untruthful word.

Without it first coming into his ears,and being noted in the strongest of minds.

He asks us all to repent from our ways, and use his very wisdom as a guide for our footsteps.

Who can turn him away?

10 Jesus Saves

Bumper StickerH

ow

to

: Identify a ChristianWithout Reading His

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He thinks on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and virtuous.(Philippians 4:8)

He ponders the path of his feet and establishes his ways in righ-teousness.(Proverbs 4:26)

He has hidden God’s word in his heart so that he won’t sin against Him.(Psalm 119:11

He is strong and courageous in serving God.(I Chronicles 28:20)

He works with his own hands and ministers to those in need.(I Thessalonians 4:11, Acts 20:34)

Whatever he does, he does it heartily, as unto the Lord. (Colos-sians 3:23)

His words show his uprightness and knowlege.(Job 33:3)

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Quiz:

Parables1. The Great Supper

A man invited many people to come to his supper, but they gave excuses about why they couldn’t come. In the end, he sent his servant out to bring the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind to take their places. Which of these were not one of the excuses of the original in-vitees?a. Bought new land and wanted to see itb. Bought new oxen and wanted to test themc. Bought a new house and wanted to move ind. Married a wife

2. The Lost CoinIf a woman with ten silver coins loses one, she searches her house carefully, and when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors to-gether to celebrate. Whom or what does the lost coin represent?a. Our faith in Jesusb. The Biblec. Judas Iscariotd. One sinner who repents

3. The Absent HouseholderA man going to a far country, left work for his servants and asked the doorkeeper to watch for his return at an unknown time. What does the

return of the householder represent?a. Unexpected trials in our livesb. The date our homework is duec. Having companyd. Jesus coming back

4. The Mustard SeedJesus likened the kingdom of heaven to a mus-tard seed, which is a very small seed, but when it is planted it becomes a tree. Which of these things does the parable not say that about this tree?a. It grows bigger than the herbs.b. It grows thick bark.c. It shoots out large branches.d. Birds build nests in it.

5. Building a Tower and King Making WarJesus said that in order to be His disciples He has to be the most important thing in our lives, moreso even than family and our own lives. He compares it to a man who must count the cost of a tower before he begins to build and to a king who, before he makes war with another king, makes sure he has enough men. What does He say would happen if the builder didn’t count the cost of his tower and ran out of money?a. He wouldn’t be able to finish.

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pay. When the king found out, he made the first servant pay the debt. What did Jesus say was the meaning of this parable?a. We should forgive each other’s trespasses from our heart.b. We should report people who are unfair to others.c. There is no point in being merciful to others.d. We should never lend money to anyone un-der any circumstances.

9. The Good SamaritanA man was attacked by theives on the road, and they left him lying by the roadside, wounded and half dead. A priest and a Levite each passed by on the other side of the road, but a Samaritan helped the man, bandaging his wounds, taking him to an inn, and caring for him. Jesus told this parable to a man who had asked “Who is my neighbor?” What did Jesus say to the man after the parable?a. Your neighbors are the people on your block.b. Asked which of the men was a neighbor to the injured man.c. Priests and Levites don’t have any neighbors.d. You only need to help those who walk on the same side of the road.

10. The Lost SheepA man with one hundred sheep, if he finds one missing, will leave the ninety-nine and go look-ing for the one that is missing. When he finds it, he will rejoice over it more than over the ones that never went astray. When He was done He talked about God’s will. It is God’s will that who shall perish?a. Those who have never heard about Himb. Those who haven’t believed in Himc. Those who have always tried to do rightd. No one

b. Those who see the tower would begin to mock him.c. Someone else would finish the tower.d. Both a and b.

6. The Pharisee and the Tax CollectorA Pharisee and a tax collector went to the tem-ple to pray. The Pharisee thanked God that he was not like other men, and told God of all the good things he had been doing. The tax collec-tor would not look up to heaven and said “God be merciful to me a sinner!” Which man went home justified?a. The Phariseeb. The tax collectorc. Bothd. Neither

7. The Persistent WidowThere was a judge who didn’t have any respect for God or for people. A widow came and asked him to get justice for her, and he wouldn’t lis-ten. She kept coming to him until he decided to do it just to keep her from bothering him. What does this parable mean?a. It is not important for judges to be just.b. God gets tired of people who pray too much.c. God will avenge the elect who cry out to Him.d. Justice will never be done unless the plaintiff pesters the judge.

8. The Unforgiving ServantThere was a servant who owed the king a large amount of money, and the king was going to sell him and his family, and his posessions to pay back the money. The servant begged him to have patience, and the king let him go and for-gave the debt. The servant then found another servant who owed him a small amount of mon-ey and threw him in prison because he couldn’t

Answers: 1c;2d;3d;4b;5d;6b;7c;8a ;9b;10d

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